Do you frequently consume alcohol? Are you experiencing a sharp kidney pain right under your rib that may indicate something is wrong with your kidneys?

If yes, you must immediately consult a doctor as your kidneys may need help. Kidney pain after drinking alcohol may occur due to acute kidney injury or an infection.

Moderate drinking should not cause kidney pain, but binge drinking or frequent drinking may cause kidney problems.

It is important for you to understand how drinking excessive alcohol can adversely affect your kidney health.

Mykare Health is here to highlight the causes of kidney pain and how they might be related to drinking alcohol.

Signs & Causes of Kidney Pain After Drinking Alcohol

To begin with, you must know the causes of kidney pain that occurs due to binge drinking and the symptoms accompanying it.

Kidney Pain After Drinking Alcohol: Symptoms

• Stabbing or dull pain in your mid-lower back (on either or both sides)
• Pain between the buttocks
• Chills
• Fever
• Unexplained fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Trouble sleeping
• Worsening kidney-area pain after sleeping
• Painful urination

Kidney Pain After Drinking Alcohol: Possible Causes

• Dehydration
• Kidney Stones
• Hydronephrosis
• Kidney Infection
• Liver or Kidney Disease

Alcohol's Effect on the Kidneys

How does alcohol affect your kidneys? According to the National Kidney Foundation, alcohol harms the kidneys in the following ways.

Interruption of function: Elevated blood alcohol concentrations can alter kidney function, interfering with the kidneys' primary role of filtering blood.

Interference with fluid levels: Alcohol, being a diuretic, induces frequent urination, dehydrates the body, and may lead to the formation of kidney stones.

Elevated blood pressure: Alcohol use often results in elevated blood pressure, raising the risk of kidney disease and other cardiovascular health issues.

Interrelated liver damage: Chronic alcohol use can damage all three of them by impairing the rate of blood flow between the liver and the kidneys, which can lead to liver disease and liver failure.

Some of these impacts won't be felt until they cause you pain, or lead to other health conditions with recognisable symptoms.

If you suspect you've overdone on alcoholic beverages, seek medical advice before being prompted by severe pain. Your doctor may be able to detect the early signs of kidney stressors before they cause irreversible damage.

Symptoms You May Experience

The areas around your kidneys may feel sore after you drink alcohol. This is the area at the back of your abdomen, under your rib cage on both sides of your spine.

You may experience this pain as a dull ache or as an abrupt, sharp, stabbing pain. It could affect one or both sides of the body and be minor or severe.

Ankle, lower back, and the area between the buttocks and lower ribs can all be affected by kidney pain. After drinking alcohol or after quitting, you might experience the pain right away. At night, it can sometimes get worse.

Other symptoms include:

• vomiting
• nausea
• painful urination
• blood in the urine
• loss of appetite
• trouble sleeping
• headaches
• fatigue
• fever
• Chills

Complications of Kidney Pain

Just as the symptoms and causes of kidney pain vary among individuals, complications from kidney pain will differ depending on the underlying causes.

For example, if your kidney pain is caused by an infection, that infection can spread to your blood (sepsis). If your kidney pain results from untreated or unmanaged kidney disease, possible long-term complications include:

• Anemia
• Gout
• Dangerously high potassium levels
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High levels of phosphorous, which can lead to bone problems, such as osteoporosis
• Liver failure
• Swelling and fluid retention

7 Reasons Why Your Kidneys Hurt After Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol consumption can intensify any pain. Understanding why you’re experiencing discomfort is essential, as it may signify something serious. Here are the most common causes of kidney pain after drinking alcohol:

1. Liver Disease

Being in pain or discomfort after drinking alcohol is more common in people with liver disease. In particular, if you drink excessively or are an alcoholic, this is likely.

Renal function is compromised in cases of liver disease due to altered blood supply to the kidneys.

Your doctor might advise the following to treat liver disease:

• Stop drinking alcohol
• Lose weight
• Follow a nutritious diet

Surgery or medication may be needed in certain cases of liver disease. In cases of liver failure, a liver transplant might also be required.

2. Kidney Stones

Kidney stones may develop due to alcohol-induced dehydration. If you already have kidney stones, drinking alcohol can contribute to or increase kidney pain. It may be possible to treat small kidney stones by:

• Drinking more water
• Taking medication
• Using home remedies

3. Kidney Infection

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) include kidney infections. Traveling to one or both kidneys, it starts in the bladder or urethra.

Drinking alcohol may exacerbate the signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Consume a lot of water and get in touch with your doctor right away if you suspect kidney infection. In order to ease discomfort, you can apply heat or take medication.

Doctors will also usually prescribe you antibiotics. However, severe or recurring kidney infections may need surgery or hospitalization.

4. Dehydration

Alcohol features diuretic properties that make you urinate more often than usual, making you prone to dehydration.

Alcohol affects the kidneys' function to maintain water balance and electrolytes.4 This results in impaired kidney function and increases the risk of developing kidney stones. Chronic dehydration leads you to a greater risk for these adverse effects.

Treat dehydration by drinking fluids and electrolytes, such as a sports drink with electrolytes and a carbohydrate solution. Avoid sugary beverages. In some circumstances, dehydration requires a visit to the doctor.

5. Ureteropelvic Junction (UPJ) Obstruction

If you have UPJ obstruction, you may experience kidney pain after drinking alcohol. UPJ affects the proper functioning of the kidneys and bladder. You may experience pain in the side, lower back, or abdomen. In some cases, pain may travel to the groin.

Sometimes, UPJ will improve independently or be treated with a minimally invasive procedure. For more extreme cases, it may already require surgery.

6. Hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis occurs in one or two swollen kidneys because of an accumulation of urine. A blockage stops urine from draining from the kidney to the bladder. This obstruction can lead the renal pelvis to become swollen or enlarged.

You may feel flank pain and difficulty or discomfort during urination. Having kidney stones heightens your risk of developing hydronephrosis. It is best to treat hydronephrosis as quickly as possible.

Meet with your doctor to receive treatment for kidney stones or infections if they are the cause. These conditions may require antibiotics or other treatments.

7. Gastritis

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to gastritis, where the stomach lining becomes swollen or inflamed. While it’s not directly related to the kidneys, you may feel pain in the upper abdomen, which may seem like kidney pain.

Treat gastritis by avoiding pain medications, alcohol, and recreational drugs. Antacids may help relieve symptoms and pain. Your doctor may also prescribe H2 antagonists or proton pump inhibitors to lessen the production of stomach acid.

Standard Treatments for Kidney Pain

Treatment of kidney pain will depend on the exact cause. Therapeutic options might include medication, rehydration, or, in some cases, surgery. Here’s what you must know about the various treatment options.

Prescription medication

Antibiotics are a standard treatment option if you're experiencing pain due to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection.

OTC pain relievers

If you do not have underlying kidney disease or low kidney function, over-the-counter pain relief medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be appropriate and helpful for managing pain. Aspirin may be unsuitable. It’s important to get advice from your doctor before taking any NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) so they can assess how your kidneys are functioning and determine the cause of your pain.

IV therapy

Depending on the extent of dehydration, a healthcare professional may give you intravenous (IV) fluids as the most efficient means of helping you rehydrate.

Surgery

If kidney pain is due to kidney stones, surgery may be required to remove them if they are too large to pass on their own. Visiting a doctor is the best way to determine the cause of your kidney pain and find an appropriate treatment to alleviate your symptoms and protect the health of your kidneys.

FAQ

1. Is Kidney Pain After Drinking Normal?

Yes, the areas around your kidneys may feel sore or uncomfortable after you drink alcohol. These areas include the back of your abdomen and under your rib cage on both sides of your spine.

You may feel a dull ache or sudden, sharp, stabbing pain. The discomfort may be mild or severe and manifest on one or both sides of the body. You may also experience kidney pain immediately after drinking alcohol or after you have stopped drinking. In some circumstances, it worsens at night.

2. Can Alcohol Cause Kidney Damage? Consuming alcohol affects various parts of your body, including your kidneys. Moderate drinking, such as one or two drinks now and then, usually has no severe effects. However, too much alcohol (more than four drinks daily) can affect your health and worsen kidney disease.

3. How Much Alcohol Leads to Kidney Damage?

Even without binge drinking, regularly drinking too much can lead to kidney problems.

Regular excessive drinking doubles the risk of chronic kidney disease, which doesn’t disappear over time. Even higher risks of kidney problems have been found in heavy drinkers who also smoke.

4. What are the Signs of Alcohol-Induced Kidney Damage?

Aside from kidney pain, a person with acute kidney injury may also notice the following signs and symptoms:

• Decreased urination
• Exhaustion
• Swollen legs, ankles, or face
• Problems breathing or shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Confusion
• Chest pressure or pain